Printing apparatus for cigarette-making machines



W. E. MOLINS Aug. 6, 1929.

PRINTING APPARATUS FOR cGARETTE MAKING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Oct. 28, 192'? Aug. 6, 1929. w. E. MoLlNs 1,723,878

PRINTTNGHAPPARATUS FOR CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINES Filed oct. 28, 1927 2 Sheets-sheet 2 Patented Aug., 6, 1929,.

inval) er OFFICE,

WALTER EVERETT MLNS, 01?' DEPTFORE, lLOlll'DOlll, ENGLAND.

PRINTJENG APPARATUS FOR CJEGARET'I'E-IVIAIUNG MACHINES.

application filed Uctober 29, 1927, Serial No. 229,477, and in Great Britain November 12, 1926.

rllhis invention is for improvements in or relating to cigarette making machines and more particularly to the printing unit for use on a cigarette making machine of the continuous rod type, and has for its object the provision of means which permits the ink to be dried prior to the web engaging with the surface of a roller or a surface liable to adect the quality of the printed impression or the quantity of ink comprising the same.

'llhe present invention comprises a printing unit for a cigarette making machine of the continuous rod type, wherein a heating element, adapted automatically to be moved into and out of engagement with the web of cigarette paper as the machine is started and stopped, is arranged to dry the ink imparted to the cigarette paper prior to the impression engaging with any surface or surfaces liable to awd'ect the quality of the printing or the quantity of inlr.

'llhe lnvention is more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which 2'- Fig 1 illustrates a printing unit constrpcted according to the present invention, an A Fig., 2 is an enlarged cross sectional elevation of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1,. l y

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a printing unit for a cigarette making machine of the continuous rod type wherein a web of cigarette paper 1 is passed through three printing units 2, 3 and d. 'llhe printing unit 2 comprises an engraved roller 5 adapted to apply a bronze impression to the web 1. The other printing units 3 and l are adapted to apply a coloured impression by the printing unit described in specification No. 12849 of 1926, wherein letterpress printing rollers ti and 7 are employed. Due to A the fact that the second and third printing units comprise letterpress rollers n6 and 7, the bronze of the first impression will not affect the printing units 3 and d. lln order to prevent the impressions applied by the three printing units 2, 3 and t being impaired by the guide roller 8, the same is engraved at that portion thereof which engages ywith the printed portions of the web of cigarette paper. After the web 1 of cigarette paper passes around the roller 8 the same is arranged to pass over a heating element 9 which israised to a temperature sufficient to dry the ink deposited upon the web. Due, however, to the fact that the web of cigarette paper is of a delicate nature and the heat required to dry the ink is very intensive, there is a tendency, every time the Vcigarette making machine is stopped, for the heater to burn the web of cigarette paper. Therefore, in order to obviate the necessity of the paper being continuously burnt, the heating element 9 is arranged to be moved out of engagement with the web of cigarette paper when the machine is stopped.

@ne method of effecting the movement of the heating element comprises a link 10 adapted to pivot about a pin 11 mounted in a bifurcated arm 12. The link 10 is adapted to swing upwardly'so as to bring the element 9 into contact with the cigarette paper and is adapted to be automatically lowered when the cigarette machine is stopped so as to move the heating element 9 out of contact with the paper,

'lhe link 10 which supports the heating element 9 is connected to a rod 13 slidable in bearings 14. Secured to the rod 13 is an arm 15 which carries a roller 16 arranged to engage with a cam 17 rotatable by the movement of the starting lever of the cigarette making machine. The starting lever is connected to the spindle 18 which carries the cam 17 so that when the lever is moved to stop the machine, the heater is moved out of adjacency to the cigarette paper, and vice versa.

When the heating element is moved out of proximity with the cigarette paper, the web 1 is supported by the arms 19 and 20 secured to the frame of the printing unit. The horizontal limbs 21 and 22 of the arms 19 and 20 are arranged to lie in the recessed portions 23 and 24 of the heating element 9.

Further, the heating element could, if necessary, be operated by a frictional device controlled by the speed of the machine, for example, a governor could be operatively connected to the heater in such a manner that when the machine was running the governor would move the heater into contact with the paper, and when the machine was stopped, lthe governor would move the heater out of contact with the cigarette paper.

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mechanically connected to said starting levver for moving said element away r What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent-is 1. The combination with a printing unit for 'applying an impression to a moving web, 'of means adjacent the path of movement of the web to dry the impression thereon, and a guide roller for engaging the web at a point intermediate the unit and said means, said uide roller having that portion of its sur ace which engages with the printed portion of the web engraved to avoid impairing the impression.

2. Mechanism for use on a cigarette making machine of the type in which power driven ymeans is provided to feed a continuous web of paper through the machine, and in which a starting lever is provided for controlling the operation of the power driven means, comprising a printing unit for applying an impression to the web, a heating element, a lever for supporting said element adjacent said web to dry the impression thereon, resilient means connected to said last mentioned lever for urging said element toward the web, and means opposing the action of said resilient means and om said web when said power driven means is set m operation. i

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with means for ap lying a printed impression to a moving we a heating element having a face for normally engaging and supporting the moving web to dry the impression, said face being recessed, means for withdrawing the said element from the web, and stationary means normally positioned in the recess in the element for supporting the web on withdrawal of the element therefrom.

4. Apparatus or printing on a moving web of paper comprising a printing unit, a heating element for drying the printed impression located adjacent said web and movable to positions toward and away from said web, means for controlling the movement of the web, and means operable from said first named means for positioning said element, said. last named means comprising a lever on which said element is supported, a rod articulated to said lever, a spring for urging said rod in one direction, a lever engaging said rod and a cam for engagement with said lever to move said rod against the action of the spring.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature.

WALTER EVERETT MOLINS. 

